Coat



Oct. 6, 1936. B. c. HlLLsoN COAT Filed April '7, 1936 INVENTOR. *z

M w L M W M W 5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED sTATl-:s

PATENT OFFICE COAT Application Aprilv 7, 1936; serial No. 78,068

4 Clairns.

This invention relates to improvements in coats and more particularly to a coat having a built-in mufiler.

One of the main features of the invention resides in a coat wherein the use of a separate mufiler to protect the chest and neck of a wearer is eliminated. For this purpose, I employ a muiiler secured to the inside of the coat which when in use with the coat buttoned at the front, imparts to the wearer the appearance that he is wearing a conventional style muffler.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a mufller which is permanently attached to a coat for use as such when the occasion arises, and which may be fiatly folded to a concealed position inside of the coatV when not in use without producing a bulky appearance.

A further feature of the invention is the pro- Vision of a permanently attached muliler for coats in which the back of the mufiler may remain upstanding with the remainder of the mufiler folded inwardly for protecting the neck and collar of a wearer against soiling by contact with the folded portion of the fold over collar of the coat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coat having a mufller feature which does not materially increase the cost of manufacture over that of the coat alone.

Other objects of the inventionv will appear in the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a man wearing my improved coat, the front of the coat being spread open to reveal the buttoned muflier.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the mufller and coat buttoned.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the chest portion of the muffier folded inwardly of the coat and with a portion of the coat broken away.

Figure 4 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view through the fold over collar of the coat showing the muffler in position for use.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the mufiier folded inwardly of the coat when not in use.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary inside plan view of the collar portion of the coat with the mufiler sections in outfolded position for use, the dotted lines indicating one of the mufller Sections when folded inwardly to non use position.

Whereas my muffier may be embodied in all styles of coats, the same is primarily adaptable for use upon leather coats used for work or sport wear, for in such construction of coats it is most uncomfortable for the wearer to turn up the leather collar to protect his chest and neck from...A

cold vand inclement weather, for it is well known that leather is cold to the touch. Furthermore, contact of the leather fold-over collar with the skin or shirt collar of a wearer results in soiling the skin or shirt collar for the color or dirt from the leather collar easily rubs off. By the use of my built-in muffler, the desired neck and chest protection is available, and therefore it is unnecessary for a wearer to resort to the turning up of the fold-over leather collar when such occasion may arise.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral |0 designates a coat which may be of the jacket or full length style. The exterior of the coat in this instance is consructed of leather or imitation leather H, while ilzie inside thereof is provided with a fabric lining The body of the coat is designated I 3 and is provided with a fold-over collar l4 and lapels |5--| 5, the outer face of the collar and lapels being leather. 'I'he collar M is joined to the body |3 along the seam 16, but as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rolled fold I'l of the collar is beyond the seam |6 when the coat is in position upon a wearer.

I The mufller includes two fabric mufiler sections I 8 and |9 which may be constructed of fiann'el, wool, or the like. The muffler sections |8 and |9 are identical in construction so that a description of one Will suifice for the other.

Each mufller section includes a substantially straight attaching edge 20, an opposed Curved neck'line edge 2|, and a substantially straight front edge 22, which latter edge forms a continuation of the neck line edge 2|. Inwardly of the front edge 22, the muflier section is provided with a row of buttons 23, while button holes 24 are provided adjacent the edge 22 of the muflier section I 9. Th'e edges of the muifler sections may be provided with a tape binding as illustrated in the drawing.

The muffler Sections I 8 and 9 are secured to the inside of the coat with the attaching edges 20 in outwardly diverging relation, the inner or tail end 25 of the same freely overlapping at the central portion of the fold-over collar l4 as best seen in Figure 6 of the drawing. A continuous line of stitching 26 extends parallel to the attaching edges 20 of the two mufiier Sections l8 and l9 and serves to secure the mufller Sections in a flap-like manner to the inner lining I 2 of the coat body. The outer ends of the mufller muffler Sections to be Secured together by passl, ing the buttons 23 through the respective button" holes 24. When the coat li! is buttoned up, the f mufiier serves as a protection against the elements both at the front and about the neck of the wearer, thus making it unnecessary for the collar Mc and lapels [5 to be turned up to obtain Such protection. The rear neck portions of .themuffler Sections extend upwardly to a position Slightly above the roll |1 on the collar to prevent rubbing contact of the collar with the neck or shirt collar of the wearer. I i

.Should it'not be 'desired to protect the chest of a wearer, the front portions of the muiiier sections may be folded backon the inside of the coat as shown in Figure 3 while'the rear or tail ends of the mufiier Sections are left standing to protect the back of the neck and shirt collar from becoming soiled by rubbing contact with the coat collar |4. This is advantageous when the mufller is embodied in leather work or sport coats. Should it be 'desired to dispense with the entire use of the muffier, the muffier Sections |V8 and |9 may be folded their entire length inwardly along the stitching line 26, the muffler section |8 being so shownin dotted lines in Figure 6 of the drawing. When the two muflier Sections are folded inwardly of 'the'body of the coat, the same lie flat, for the free lapping of the tail ends 25 overcomes any buckling thereof. The line of Stitching 26 at the tail ends 25 of the mufller Sections is disposed inwardly of the seam IS so that when the muflier Sections are folded to non use position, the presence of the mufiler within the' coat cannot be fdetected, and the presence thereof does not in any way interfere with the comfort of the Awearer or with the lie of the foldovercollar of thel coat. I o

WhileI have shown and described a`button and button hole connection between the two muffler Sections for securing the same together, it will be understood that snap fasteners or other analogous fastening devices may be employed in lieu thereof.

` Although I have shown and described one Specific embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself thereto, for Such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

I-Iaving thus described the inventon, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist- 1. In a coat having a body and a collar attached thereto,. a muflier comprising a pair of mufiier sectionsecuredtp the `inside rear of said body adjacent Said collar, said muffler Sections having inner ends which freely terminate against the back of the collar, and said muflier Sections being Successvely foldable outwardly to a position tovprotect the neck and chest of a wearer when the coat is in use, or to an infolded concealed' position,V relative thereto, and fastening 'means for' Securing the mufiier Sections together at the fronteofV Said coat when the muffler sections arev in out folded position.

In a coat having a body and a collar attached thereto, aA muffler. compriing a pair, Vof `muffler Sectionssecured alongone Iof. their ed'ges to said body adjacent Said'collar; the mufiier Sections having ;inner ends .which terminate substantially Vat the backoffthe collar in'f'ree overlappng relation, Said rnuflier Sectionsbeingoutwardly foldable to mufiier forming.: position to extend about the neck of ta wearerfa'nd to lie over the Wearer's chest When the coat is in use, and fastening means forrsecuring the Vfront portions of the mufiier Sections' together.:

3. In a coat having 'a bodyand a foldovercollar attached thereto, a muffler comprising two separate muffler Sections Stitched alongoneof their edges to Said body and having inner ends which terminate Substantially at the back of the collar in free overlapping relation, Said mufiiersections adapted to be brought forward about the neck of a wearer to overlie the'chest when th'ecoat is in use,.portions of Said muffler Sections protectig the neck of a wearer froml contactiwith .thetroll to a position for use about Vthe neck and chest of a weareryand flatlytfold'ed lwithin said body when not in use, 'and fasteni'r'ig means for'securing the front ends of said muflier sectionsto-v gether when they are inv position foruse. I

' BENJMIN C; HILLSON. 

